Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

264 DANGER IN TUB DABK.
of the distinguished stranger. He pronounced him
guiltless as an angel j pure in heart as the driven
snow, and spotless as the purple light of heaven j
declared that his hands were as free from the blood
of Ugo Bassi as his own; denounced with exceeding
bitterness and severity, all who had taken part in
treating him with scorn and derision.
Several members of the Senate chimed in, uttering
similar sentiments-denouncing in unmeasured terms
those who had taken a hand in burning the holy
man in effigy, and otherwise offering insult, and
treating with contempt, so illustrious a divine
By this time, Bedini had swelled up like a toad,
and began to feel himself of more than considerable
consequence. The fulsome flattery, and excessive
compliments lavished upon him, inflated the fellow
almost to bursting. But his reverence was timely
saved from explosion by a few counteracting remarks
offered by a California Senator, near the close of the
discussion, who delivered himself substantially as
follows:
" I can see no good that will likely grow out of the
resolution. The expression of public opinion cannot
be put down, whatever the Senate may say or do. If
Bedini is guilty of only one-half of what he is charged
with by his own countrymen, then the people are
right in what they are doing."
'I'hese remarks drew forth loud applause in the gal.
leries. A sudden revulsion was produced in the feelings
of the Nuncio j he put on a grim and fiendish